ACI's 4D RDBMS Development Tool Automates Development and Maintenance of Web Pages; ACI Uses 4D Database to Develop its own Home Page.

CUPERTINO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 8, 1996--Using its 4D relational databases development tool, ACI US, Inc. developed a database, code-named Webster, to build and maintain its Web site, which went live today at address http://www.aci-4d.com. ACI will provide access to this technology for 4D developers.

4D is a 32-bit cross-platform RDBMS environment which provides a robust database engine and a powerful and intuitive set of tools for developing sophisticated graphical applications.

"The greatest challenge of managing a Web site is maintaining it -- keeping it updated on a frequent basis without it being labor-intensive," said Mark Vernon, president of ACI US, Inc. "4D's robust 4GL, its 4D Complier, ACI's true machine language complier, and its ability to contain and work with rich data types like voice, data and video makes Webster an ideal development tool for the Internet. ACI engineers used the Webster database to build the ACI Web pages quickly and efficiently without errors in HTML coding, and to design a system that would significantly reduce maintenance time."

The database works as follows:

1) Raw data is entered from functional areas (marketing, sales, engineering) in pre-defined fields; 2) users can add formatting and hypertext links with user friendly pop-up menus; 3) the database administrator executes procedures that build HTML pages from the data in Webster; 4) pages are automatically generated; 5) the databases administrator copies pages to the Web server where they are immediately available to the Web server application.

The database was designed to produce Web pages with a consistent look and behavior for all subsequent pages added to the Web address. If a new graphical element is added, 4D will use the new graphic as new pages are generated without modification in HTML coding.

ACI Home Page

Information located on ACI's home page at www.aci-4D.com includes product information, partner programs, technical support information, training sessions with online pre-registration, ACI corporate background, ACI-4D resource guide including reseller contacts, user group contacts, sales contacts, and ACI departments.

About ACI US

ACI US, Inc. was founded in 1987 as the U.S. publisher of 4th Dimension and the 4D product family, which has set the Apple Macintosh database standard for more than seven years. In 1995, ACI introduced the Windows version of 4th Dimension for Windows 95, Windows NT, and Windows 3.1 environments. Object Master, also published by ACI US, is the tool of choice for professional programmers.

ACI US is located at 20883 Stevens Creek Blvd., Cupertino, Calif. 95014. Telephone [phone], fax [phone], www.aci-4D.com.

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